Absolutism
Absolutism Learning Goals
– 4 I can explain how government in England and John Locke
effected the US government
– 3 I can compare and Contrast the limited government in England
with the absolute monarchies in the rest of Europe
– 2 I can explain limited government, absolute monarchies, Louis
XIV, Peter the Great, Phillip II, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights,
John Locke,
– 1 I can explain a monarchy and representative government
4
–I can explain how
government in England
and John Locke effected
the US government
3
–I can compare and Contrast the
limited government in England
with the absolute monarchies in
the rest of Europe
2
–I can explain limited government,
absolute monarchies, Louis XIV,
Peter the Great, Phillip II, Magna
Carta, English Bill of Rights, John
Locke
1
–1 I can explain a monarchy
and representative
government
King or Queen of America
– You have become King/Queen of America! You inherit an
America as it is today- list 3 laws you would mandate
immediately upon taking control
– Trade with your neighbor
– Now, on your neighbor’s sheet write 2 potential
consequences of each law- positive or negative, short
term or long term
Peter the Great and Beards
– Beards
Spain’s Empire
and European
Absolutism
What does the cartoon say
about Kings?
What is absolutism?
– Causes of
absolutism
– Decline of feudalism, rise of cities, growth of
national kingdoms, and growing middle class
– Absolute
monarchs
– kings/queens who held all of the power in their
nations boundaries
– Had large armies, imposed taxes, created
bureaucracies to manage the nation
– No checks and balances
– Divine right
– God created the monarchy and the king was God’s
representative, had to answer only to God
Who was Phillip II?
– Philip II
– King of Spain, (Spanish colonies in America, Portugal,
colonies in India, Netherlands)
– Deeply Catholic
– Incredibly wealthy- land around the globe
– Defender of
Catholicism
– Helped Pope in defeated growing Ottoman Empire
– Lost a battle against Elizabeth I, over Protestantism
– Spanish Art
– El Greco- rich colors, Catholic themes, but distorted
images
– Velazquez- rich colors, painted the Royal family
– Cervantes- wrote Don Quixote- first modern European
novel
Why does Spain’s economy weaken?
– Inflation
– Drop in value of money and increase in prices of goods
– Caused by
– increase in population- more demand= higher price
– Too much silver (money) on the market
– Economy
– Nobles did not pay taxes so it fell to small middle class
– Goods were expensive in Spain so they purchased
goods from other nations
– Spain borrowed money to finance wars
The Reign of
Louis XIV
14
How did Louis XIV become so powerful?
– Cardinal
Richelieu
– Strong minister (advisor) to Louis XIII (13)
– Limited rights of protestants- no walled cities
– Weakened Nobles power
– No walled castles, more government agents from middle
class
– Boy King
– 14 years old when Louis XIV took the throne
– Cardinal Mazarin took over for Richelieu
– Increased Taxes and made government stronger
– Put down rebellion led by Nobles
How did Louis XIV become so powerful?
– Weakened
Nobles
– Gave their power to intendants
– Economic
Growth
– Tried to make France self-sufficient
– Required Nobles to live at his palace
– Tax benefits to French Companies
– Taxed imports
– Use colonies for natural resources
– (Canada)
– Expand
Borders
– Attacked bordering nations
– Led to European nations banding together to keep a balance of power
against France
What Was the Life of a King Like?
– Luxury
– King spent a fortune to be surrounded by Luxury
– Feasts at every meal, servants and Nobles waited on him
– Versailles- grand palace outside Paris
– Arts
– Huge Patron of the Arts
– Art was to glorify the King and promote the Kings values
What was the War of Spanish Succession?
– War of Spanish
Succession
– King of Spain Charles II leaves his throne to Louis XIV’s
grandson Phillip Anjou
– Other nations did not want the two strongest nations
united by one family
– Treaty of Utrecht
– Phillip could have the throne but
could NOT unite with France
What is Louis XIV Legacy?
– Positives
– Powerful France, best military, colonies,
– Leader in art, literature, statesmanship
– Negatives
– Huge debt, Abuse of power
– Resentment over tax burden
Palace of
Versailles
– It is about 15 miles south
west of Paris and easily
reached by train.
– The Palace of Versailles
cost about $2 billion in
today’s money
– The palace was built in
the late 17th century as a
home for France’s king at
the time, Louis XIV. It took
about 3,000 workers to
construct the palace and
grounds.
– It contains over 700
rooms, over 60 staircases
and over 1,200 fireplaces.
– The huge gardens were
just as spectacular as the
palace itself. They covered
over 30,000 acres and
featured a mile long
canal, 400 sculptures and
1,400 fountains.
– The grounds also
contained two smaller
palaces, both elaborately
decorated and furnished.
The Petit Trianon was a
refuge for Marie
Antoinette to escape from
the hectic palace lifestyle.
– The Hall of Mirrors is one
of the most spectacular
rooms in the palace, and
was originally lit with
3,000 candles. The Treaty
of Versailles, officially
ending World War I, was
signed in this room in
1919.
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCqwN88_BAY
Absolute
Rulers of
Russia
Take notes from the text
Parliament
Limits the
English
Monarchy
What problems did the Kings of England face?
– Charles I
– Needed money to fight wars with Spain and France
– Parliament refused to give it to him unless he signed the
Petition of Right
– No prisoners without cause
– No taxes with out Parliament’s consent
– Not martial law or housing soldiers in private home
– Charles signs but then ignores it
– Important b/c it sets the idea that the law is above the King
– Wanted both Scotland (Presbyterian) and England to be
Anglican- one religion
– Scotland rebelled
– Many did not like Charles
What happened during the Civil War?
– Causes of
English Civil
War
– Charles calls Parliament for money to defeat Scotts
– Parliament tries to limit his power- he tries to
arrest them
– London Rebels
– Charles flees to the north
– War
– Royalists- loyal to Charles
– Roundheads- Puritans, Parliament etc..
Lead by Oliver Cromwell
– Effects
– Cromwell wins and puts Charles on trial
for treason- he is guilty and beheaded
– Cromwell becomes military dictator
How does a monarchy return in England?
– Glorious
Revolution
– After Cromwell dies Charles II then his brother James II become
King again
– James is Catholic and England doesn’t like this
– His daughter Mary is Protestant, married to a Prince of the
Netherlands (William)- they are invited by Parliament to come
to England overthrow James II and rule
– They go, James flees- bloodless Revolution
– Mary and William rule but there is a
catch
– English Bill of Rights
Limits on
Monarch’s
Power
English Bill of Rights or US
Constitution?
– No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the
consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by
law.
– Constitution
English Bill of Rights or US
Constitution?
– That election of members of [Parliament/Congress] ought to be free.
– English Bill of Rights
English Bill of Rights or US
Constitution?
– That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
– English Bill of Rights
English Bill of Rights or US
Constitution?
– The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and
Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general
Welfare
– Constitution
How did England limit the Kings Power?
– Limited
Government
– is a system of government that is bound to certain principles of
action by a state constitution
– Law is above all
– Magna Carta
– Passed in 1215- guaranteed certain political rights to Nobles
– Jury trial, no taxation without representation, protection of the
law
How did England Limit the Kings Power?
– Constitutional
Monarchy
– Laws limit the monarch’s power
– Mary and William had to accept Parliament as their
partner in governing
– Parliament- law making body
– English Bill of
Rights
– Passed in 1689- Mary and William also had to accept
– Limited Royal Power
– Foundation for political
rights